The popular New Year's Day fixture at Cheltenham has proved a springboard for numerous future stars since being staged for the first time in its current format in 2005.
Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Denman and Bobs Worth both won over hurdles at the fixture during their novice campaigns. Denman bolted up in the rearranged G1 Challow Novices' Hurdle, which had been moved from Newbury, in 2006, while Bobs Worth captured what is now the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle in 2011.
Big Buck's kick-started his unprecedented 18-race winning streak over hurdles in the 2009 running of the Paddy Power 68 Sleeps To Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle, defeating future Grand National hero Don't Push It by a length and three quarters. Trained by Paul Nicholls and owned by Andy Stewart, Big Buck's haul over hurdles included four successive G1 Stayers' Hurdle triumphs at The Festival™ presented by Magners in March.
Star mare Annie Power continued her rise through the ranks with a comfortable victory over Zarkandar is the now discontinued Dornan Engineering Hurdle on New Year's Day 2014. She retired with 15 wins from 17 starts, headlined by her memorable success in the 2016 Champion Hurdle at The Festival - becoming the first mare to win the two-mile showpiece since Flakey Dove in 1994.
The New One's second victory under Rules came in the 2012 renewal of the EBF Stallions & Cheltenham Pony Club NH Flat Race. He went on to win 17 times over hurdles, including a record-equalling three successes in the G2 Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Lostintranslation and Defi Du Seuil finished first and second in the G2 Paddy Power Broken Resolutions Already Dipper Novices' Chase on New Year's Day in 2019. Both horses have subsequently established themselves as two of Britain's top chasers, with Defi Du Seuil winning the G1 JLT Novices' Chase at The Festival and this season's G1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase. Lostintranslation has also progressed to G1 honours on both Aintree's Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase and the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.
Under 18s go racing for free on New Year's Day. Club/Tattersalls Enclosure ticket holders will have access to a variety of complimentary entertainment in the Family Fun Zone, including exclusive appearances from Alex the Lion and Skipper the Penguin from the film Madagascar at intervals throughout the day. Lampa will be performing in The Guinness Village throughout the day for Club/Tattersalls racegoers, while there will be live music in The Centaur after racing from local favourites Tommy and The Fuse for Club/Tattersalls racegoers.
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If you need any information about racing at Cheltenham, please contact: Sarah Jane Muirie, Communications Manager - Jockey Club Racecourses South West 01242 537683 SarahJane.Muirie@thejockeyclub.co.uk
